Horseshoe bell



Oct. 7, 1947. F. BROWN 2,428,648

HORSESHOE BELL I Filed March22, 1945 Jaw/2%:

Patented Oct. 7, 1 947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

The object of the present invention is to produce bells of novel type and character and to utilize horseshoes in the manufacture of bells. I have found that two or more horseshoes when integrally joined together in suitable manner according to the principles hereinafter set forth, emit when struck sharply by a hard object, particularly by a piece of hard metal, a pleasing belllike tone. The pitches and tone qualities of different bells made according to these principles may be varied through a considerable range by using larger or smaller horseshoes, Weighting the horizontal shoe or shoes of the bell by heel or toe calks, or omitting such calks, and in other ways.

The invention comprises a combination of two or more horseshoes integrally united together so that one is in a plane perpendicular to the other or others and that the connected shoes are, capable o-f vibrating at a rate such that sound waves will be propagated. A further characteristic of the invention is the disposition of th connected horseshoes such that the assemblage may be suspended from a support and, when so suspended, one shoe will hang in a vertical plane and the other shoe or collection of shoes will be supported thereby in a horizontal or substantially horizontal Plane at the lower end of the vertical shoe. The invention further includes the combination of a bell so constructed with a tongue suspended within the space embraced by the connected horseshoes and with its lower portion in a position such that it may be brought into striking engagement with the horizontal shoe- Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, and in these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a simple form of bell made by the union of two horseshoes and having a suspended tongue;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same bell as seen from the right of Fig, 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a bell made of three horseshoes, two of which are joined together in one plane and the other is joined to one of the first two in a plane at right angles to them;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig 5 is a plan view of an equivalent bell, in which three horseshoes are joined together in one plane and connected to a fourth horseshoe in a plane at right angles thereto;

Fig, 6 is a similar view of another form of bell wherein four horseshoes are joined together in one plane and a fifth is united to one of them in a plane perpendicular to that of the first menti ned plane.

horseshoe a.

The bell shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is composed of two horseshoes designated a and 7). One of the heels of the shoe a, which is here designated as a, is united to the shoe b by welding, and the other heel, a is brought near to the shoe b but is separated therefrom by a space wide enough to permit both shoes to vibrate without interference from either of them if struck a sharp blow by a hard object. shoe 1) is one illustration of what is meant by the term integral union used in the introductory part of this specification. The union is such that the connected horseshoes become in effect one integral vibratory unit,

In this assemblage of the horseshoes, the member a is located in a plane perpendicular, or substantially so, to the plane of the shoe b, and with its plane coinciding with the center of gravity of the shoe 1) and its own center of gravity in a line perpendicular to the plane of shoe b and passing through the center of gravity thereof. This arrangement enables the bell unit, when suspended by the toe of the shoe a, to occupy by gravity a position wherein the plane of the shoe (1 is vertical or nearly so, and the shoe 1) is horizontal, or nearly so. With this arrangement the plane of the shoe 0: is more or less nearly coincident with a diameter of the shoe 1).

In this description a diameter of a horseshoe is considered to be any line which lies in the plane of the shoe and passes through its center of gravity.

Preferably the union between the shoes is made near one of the heels of the shoe b, as this provides the greatest continuous length of vibrating metal and gives the best quality of tone. But it is not an essential condition and the union may be made at any point on the horseshoe b provided the relations previously described are maintained. Some variation in pitch or quality is obtainable according to the location of this union.

Preferably the horseshoes selected for making a bell of this character are of the same, or nearly the same, dimensions; and the heels of the shoe a are curved outward by forging so that the distance between them will approximate the length of the diameter of the shoe b on which the shoe a is located.

A suspender c is connected to the toe of the This suspender may be a loop of leather or other non vibratory material passed through a hole drilled in the horseshoe; and a tongue d is suspended in the space embraced by the legs of the shoe a. Conveniently it may be hung by a loop 8 of leather or other non vibratory material passed through the same hole which re- The weld between the heel a and the i like or analogous to horseshoes.

ceives the loop C. Its lower end lies within the space embraced by the horseshoe b and carries a lanyard f by which it may be swung to one side or another to strike the shoe b. In this instance the tongue is a metal rod carrying on its lower end a right angles to that of the shoes 7' and k with its.

free heel near, but separated from, the free heel of shoe k. The centers of gravity of the horseshoes in these respective planes, and of the assembled unit, are in essentially the same relationship and alinement as those of the bell first describedso that, when the toe end of the shoe (1 is suspended from a hanger, this shoe will hang in a substantially vertical plane and the shoes 7' and la in a substantially horizontal plane. The tongue in this instance is a spur lhung by its rear branch from the toe of shoe (1. by a loop e and disposed so that its arms embrace the connected parts of the shoes 7 and k.

The variation shown in Fig. 5 consists of three horseshoes m, n and joined together in the form of a trefoil by welding of the two heels. of the shoe n to one heel each of the shoes m and 0, with the other heels of the shoes m and o nearto, but separated from, one another; all being in 'one plane. A shoe a like those so designated in the, preceding description is joined in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane by Welded union between its heel a and the shoe m near the free heel of the latter. The relationship of the centers of gravity of this combination and its constituent parts is essentially like that of the precedently described embodiments.

A further variation, shown in Fig. 6, consists of four horseshoes p, q, r and s, welded together in one plane in the form of a quatrefoil with the free heel of shoe s welded to the heel a of a fifth horseshoe a which, in its characteristics and disposition is essentially like the shoe so designated in preceding figures. In each of the bells shown in Figs. and 6, a tongue d like that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is used.

The foregoing illustrations show a few of the many various arrangements in which horseshoes The tone qualiassemblage of shoes in that plane. Figs. 1 and 2 show a toe calk t and heel calks u on the shoe 17,

while Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the absence of all,

such calks.

The principles of the invention for which I claim protection are not limited as to the sources,

conditions, or surface characteristics of the constituent elements in the finished articles. That is, the term horseshoes is not a limitation to Y shoes provided for horses only, but include those of or for other draft animals, such as mules, for instance, which are shod with pieces of metal stituents of the bells maybe of any dimensions Also the conand weights, from the work shoes of heavy draft animals to the light shoes of race horses and ponies, and may be either new shoes, worn shoes, or blanks suitable to be made into shoes, whether or not pierced for the passage of nails or grooved to contain nail heads, and like pieces of metal.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

'1. A bell comprising two horseshoes united together in planes transverse to each other, of which one horseshoe is disposed. with its plane substantially in a diameter of the other and with one only of its heels united to such other shoe, its other heel being free.

2. A bell comprising horseshoes joined togethe by integral union of one heel only of one with a portion of th other, the horseshoe first above mentioned being in a plane transverse to the plane of the other and overlying the other in such manner that when suspended at its toe; itoccupies a substantially vertical plane and the other occupies a substantially horizontal plane.

3. A bell constructed of a plurality of horseshoes arranged with one in a plane substantially perpendicular to another, all being integrally connected to make a sonically vibratory unit.

4. A bell constructed of a plurality of horseshoes arranged with one in a plane substantially perpendicular to another, all being integrally con-.

a location such that it extends across the space.

embraced by such assemblage.

6. A bell comprising a plurality of joined together in one plane, and another horseshoe integrally connected at one of its heels with the before named assemblage of horseshoes in a plane substantially perpendicular thereto, and in a location such that its center of gravity is alined with the center of gravity of said assemblage on a line substantially perpendicular to the plane of the assemblage, whereby when the entire combination is suspended by the toe of the last named horseshoe, that horseshoe will be in a substantially vertical plane and the previously named assemblage in a substantially horizontal plane.

7. A horseshoe bell comprising a horseshoe located in one plane, another horseshoe located in a plane transverse to that of the first named horseshoe and-in integral union with one only of the heels of the latter, the first horseshoe being 7 arranged across the space embraced by the other, and a tongue in swinging connection with th toe portion ofthe first horseshoe extending into the a horseshoes 

